Commodity reading device and commodity reading method

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a commodity reading device includes a hand-held scanner configured to read a code symbol on a commodity, a fixed scanner configured to read a code symbol on a commodity by capturing an image of the code symbol, and a processor. The processor is configured to detect the code symbol in the image captured by the fixed scanner, extract commodity information for identifying the commodity from the detected code symbol, and provide a notification to a user when a time between the detection of the code symbol and the extracting of the commodity information exceeds a preset threshold length of time, the notification indicating that the hand-held scanner is available to read the code symbol.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A commodity reading device, comprising:
 a hand-held scanner configured to read a code symbol on a commodity;   a fixed scanner configured to read a code symbol on a commodity by capturing an image of the code symbol;   a processor configured to:
 detect the code symbol in the image captured by the fixed scanner, 
 extract commodity information for identifying the commodity from the detected code symbol, and 
 provide a notification to a user when a time between the detection of the code symbol and the extracting of the commodity information exceeds a preset threshold length of time, the notification indicating that the hand-held scanner is available to read the code symbol. 
   
     
     
         2 . The commodity reading device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display screen, wherein   the notification provided by the processor causes the display screen to display a message to the user.   
     
     
         3 . The commodity reading device according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a signal lamp, wherein   the notification provided by the processor further causes the signal lamp to signal a malfunction of the fixed scanner.   
     
     
         4 . The commodity reading device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a memory configured to store a flag value indicating a previous failure of the extraction of the commodity information, wherein   the processor is further configured to provide a notification, based on the stored flag value, to a user in a subsequent transaction indicating that the fixed scanner is inoperable and the hand-held scanner is available for reading a code symbol.   
     
     
         5 . The commodity reading device according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to register a commodity for sale in a sales transaction based on commodity information extracted from a code symbol. 
     
     
         6 . A self-service point-of-sales terminal, comprising:
 a display screen configured to be viewed by a customer registering items in a sales transaction;   a hand-held scanner configured to read a code symbol on a commodity in the sales transaction;   a fixed scanner configured to read a code symbol on a commodity in the sales transaction by capturing an image of the code symbol on the commodity; and   a processor configured to:
 detect the code symbol in the image captured by the fixed scanner, 
 extract commodity information for identifying the commodity from the detected code symbol, and 
 provide a notification on the display screen when a time between the detection of the code symbol and the extracting of the commodity information exceeds a preset threshold length of time, the notification indicating that the hand-held scanner is available to read the code symbol. 
   
     
     
         7 . The self-service point-of-sales terminal according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a signal lamp, wherein   the notification provided by the processor further causes the signal lamp to signal a malfunction of the fixed scanner.   
     
     
         8 . The self-service point-of-sales terminal according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a memory configured to store a flag value indicating a previous failure of the extraction of the commodity information, wherein   the processor is further configured to provide a notification, based on the stored flag value, to a customer in a subsequent transaction indicating that the fixed scanner is inoperable and the hand-held scanner is available for reading a code symbol.   
     
     
         9 . The self-service point-of-sales terminal according to  claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to register a commodity for sale in a sales transaction based on commodity information extracted from a code symbol. 
     
     
         10 . The self-service point-of-sales terminal according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a card reader/writer for receiving transaction settlement payments from the customer.   
     
     
         11 . A commodity reading method for a commodity device with a fixed scanner and a hand-held scanner, the method comprising:
 capturing an image of a code symbol on a commodity using a fixed scanner;   detecting the code symbol in the captured image;   attempting to extract commodity information for identifying the commodity from the detected code symbol detected; and   providing a notification to a user when a time between the detection of the code symbol and the extracting of the commodity information exceeds a preset threshold length of time, the notification indicating that a hand-held scanner is available to read the code symbol.   
     
     
         12 . The commodity reading method according to  claim 11 , wherein the notification is displayed on a display screen of the commodity reading device. 
     
     
         13 . The commodity reading method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 causing a signal lamp to signal a malfunction of the fixed scanner when the notification is provided.   
     
     
         14 . The commodity reading method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 storing a flag value indicating a previous failure of the extraction of the commodity information.   
     
     
         15 . The commodity reading method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 providing a notification, based on the stored flag value, to a user in a subsequent transaction indicating that the fixed scanner is inoperable and the hand-held scanner is available for reading a code symbol.   
     
     
         16 . The commodity reading method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 registering a commodity for sale in a sales transaction based on commodity information extracted from a code symbol.